Review: 2015 Toyota Camry XLE

Written by: Adil Arif

Photography by: Adil Arif

The Toyota Camry requires little introduction. This iconic family hauler has been dominating the midsize sedan market for the past 12 years and has been the best-selling car in North America ever since. The Camry has never been the prettiest, nor the most exciting vehicle on the lot, but the numbers don’t lie. Built by the number one automaker in the world and boasting a fresh revamp for 2015, the Toyota Camry is eager to keep that champion’s belt for a 13th consecutive year.

Toyota has redesigned the Camry to be the most stylish version we’ve ever seen. It’s far from radical but subtle enough to keep the car nicely updated with a timeless look. Boasting an eye-catching front end and tastefully detailed rear, it’s sure to catch the attention of prospective buyers while not scaring off longtime devotees. Standard on the XLE trim, as tested, are LED headlights, a noise-reducing windshield, sunroof and 17-inch alloy wheels round out the updated exterior. Overall the 2015 Camry looks much more refined with styling evidently inspired from their upscale Lexus division.

Inside the changes continue. It’s still the same roomy and comfortable cabin but with upgraded knobs, buttons and padded faux leather seen throughout giving it a high-end feel. A large 7-inch touch screen navigation unit sits on the center console and all tech features such as Bluetooth, phone, vehicle settings and apps can be accessed. The seats are supportive and comfy, there’s ample cargo room in the boot and enough seating capacity in the rear to even squeeze in a fourth adult. The Camry is nothing short of spacious, with plenty of legroom and a crisp sounding 10-speaker JBL sound system that our ears dearly enjoyed.

The same four-cylinder and V6 engines from last generation make their way back to the 2015 Toyota Camry. Our XLE tester came equipped with the latter: a 3.5L V6 rated at 268 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque - a straight up sleeper. Don’t even try to get into a highway merging battle with this (just ask my our other editors who tried to overtake one in a Subaru BRZ tester – yeah it didn’t go so well). Thanks to a proper six-speed automatic and a flat torque curve, I never had to floor the gas pedal to get the Camry up to speed. Good gearing, buttery smooth shifts, a silky V6 and not to mention the bellowing exhaust that accompanies it, sums up a memorable driving experience. I even caught myself daydreaming of what it would sound like with an aftermarket exhaust. The surprises continued to impress us as improvements made to the chassis rigidity, suspension, and steering dialed up the responsiveness and overall balance of the car. Put it all together and the Camry simply feels like the perfect blend between sport sedan and family sedan, offering an engaging experience that to be honest, I did not feel in previous generations. This is definitely the most fun you’ll ever have with a Camry.

It won’t break the bank at the pump either. In fact, after a week’s worth of spirited driving I averaged 9.1 L/100km with mixed city and highway driving. That pegs it right around what Toyota’s official numbers are – 9.7 L/100km city and 6.9 L/100km highway. It’s an average rating and respectable given the driving dynamics of the car. If you’re looking for something more fuel-efficient then you may want to check out the Camry Hybrid as that’s rated at 5.5 L/100km city and 6.0 L/100km highway.

You may be used to hearing all about how dull and drab the Toyota Camry is. Think again because there’s a reason it’s been a top seller for the past twelve years. Starting at just $24,100 and rounding out to $34,800 (before taxes, delivery, PDI) with premium safety features such as blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic monitoring, it will easily be in the running for a thirteenth consecutive year. If you have a family, or are in the market for a mid-size sedan and don’t want to break the bank, save yourself the headache and test drive one. Like us you’ll be pleasantly surprised.